Ventilating system



D. E. ROSS ET AL June 16, 1925.

VENTILATING SYSTEM Filed March 1, 1923 3 SheetsSheet 2 June 16 1925.

ROSS ET AL VENTILATING SYSTEM Filed March 1, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ingv hadto the accompanying Patented Jam 16, 1925.

PATENT, orrlcr...

' mm n. ROSS A D IAMEs 1o. HOFFMAN, or LA. FAYETTE, INDIANA, AssIeNOns To PURDUE UNIVERSITY, or LA FAYETTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION or INDIANA.

VENTILATING SYSTEM.

Application filed March 1,19%. fierial NO. 622,093.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we, DAVID E. Ross and J AMES D'HOFFMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at La Fayette, in the county of Tippecanoe and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VentilatingS'ystems; and we hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,-reference bedrawings which form part of this speci ation. This invention is an improvement in veni tilating systems for 'buildin s, and is particularly intended for venti ating the class rooms of schools, etc. The primary object of the invention is to insure real and adequate ventilating of a room by withdrawing the foul air about e ually from the room at numerous Oints in t e room, so the fresh air can be circulated therein; and also to 7 provide means whereby, if desired fresh air can be forced into the room simultaneously with the withdrawal of the foul air.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ventilating system which will not create objectionable air draughts on the students or persons occupying the room.

Except in very large rooms the forcible withdrawal of the foul air would suflice to draw fresh air into the room through the fresh air ducts, or the forcible introduction of fresh air into the room would cause the expulsion of the foul air' through the foul air ducts. In large rooms we prefer to both forcibly withdraw foul air from the room and to forcibly inject fresh air into the room.

A further object of the invention is to rovide an apparatus which can be easily Installed in class rooms already built without any expensive alterations therein, and without interference with the lighting or heating system installed therein; which can he made to enhance the architectural ap-- pearance of the room. To enable others to adapt and use the invention we will explain it with reference to the accompanying drawings, which diagrammatically illustrate a ventilating apparatus embodying the invention, and then summarize in the claims the essentials of the invention, combinations of parts, and novel features of constfuction, for all of which protection is desired.

In said drawings: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical perspective view of a portion of a class room with our provided black-boards E on the side walls,

the lower edges of such black-boards'being about three feet above the floor level or wash hoard,indicated at 1 in the drawings, and likewise these black-hoards E usually have a shallow rack or chalk shelf 1 extending along the bottom thereof We utilize the space below this shelf 1 for an air duct A which air duct may be formed in the form of a flattened tube, or applied to the wall so as toform such a tube, and

which duct lies close to the side wall and beneath said shelf. The shelf 1 might form the top of the air duct A and the side wall 3, the inside wall thereof, or, if desired, the

top of the duct A may be formed by a narrow strip of material 2* attached to the top of the front side 2 of the duct, and underlying the shelf 1. The bottom 2" of this duct A may be formed by a narrow strip of similar material, and the back 2 of an other strip of such material. The strips 2, 2. 2", 2, may bev reformed if desired and attachedto the wal in any suitable manner.

This duct A is intended to extend entirely along one or more sides of the room to be ventilated. Preferably we would extend it entirely around the roomto be ventilated.

The duct A counicates preferably at one or more corners of the room, with an putlet duct or ducts B which may be conveniently formed of any suitable material and may be of any desired cross section, and extends out of the room to the fan casing a, as shown in Fig. l. I

The cross sectional area of the duct B may approximate the cross sectional area of the duct A. The space below thechalk rail may be large or small accordin as the board 2 extends nearer to or farther level. All of these ducts are preferably proportioned in size to suit thc wnditionsoi the room and its seating capacity. The duct B extends to the outside or to a duct lead- 1ng to the outside of the building through which the foul air in the room may be discharged;

In the duct A preferably in the bottom thereof, are formed a series of inlet open-.

ings a, and .the total area of these inlet openings should approximately equal the cross sectional area of the duct B so that when suction is applied to the duct B by means of fan 4 to exhaust the air from the duct A, air will be drawn into duct A tlirough allof the openings a. In order that this may be properly done the openings a should be of'increasingly larger area, beginning with the opening nearest the duct B to those most remote therefrom, so as to insure that air will" be drawn in equal amounts into the duct A from all parts of' I the room through all the openings at therein.

a were all of the same area more air would Air has. even a greater tendency than water to cross-current and if the openings be drawn throu h the openings w nearest the duct B orpomt of suction pressure than through the openings a more remote therefrom, and there would be more foul air withdrawn from the room through the openings adjacent the duct B than through th openings remote therefrom.

In some cases, particularly in very large rooms, in order to further prevent unequalwithdrawal of foul air into the duct A,

the duct A may be divided into a plurality of smaller ducts A by means of partitionsv or vanes 2 which may be arranged within the, duct as indicated in Fig. 2, each subduct A conducting air from one or more of the openings a into the duct B.

The duct B is provided with, or connects with, a suitable suction device such as an electrically operated fan 4 by which the foul air can be withdrawn through duct B and around the "up er corners of the room. This duct C may e formed of metal or other tubing of the same material as duct A and may be suitably secured in position to form Duct C communicates with the air duct C. a duct D preferably adjacent the duct B, communicating with the exterior atmosphere through a suitable flue or conduit 5. Duct D is also preferably provided with a aaaawe fan 5, which may be similar to the fan 4, but so arranged as to force fresh air from the exteror of the building through the duct- D and into the duct C.

The duct C is provided preferably in its front vertical face with a series of openings 0, which are preferably of such area that the total area of these openings 0 will approximately equal the cross sectional area of the duct C; and the area of the duct C should correspond to, or be slightly greater than the duct D, so that the air forced into the duct D will be evenly distributed through these openings 0 in all parts of the room.

The air inlet openings 0 are preferably arranged like the air outlet openings a, the openings 0 gradually increasing in area from the opening nearest the pipe D to the opening furthest removed therefrom, so that the fresh air will be uniformly distributed throughout the room, at all points, in the same way that the foul air will be uniformly wthdrawn from the room.

If desired, to provide for contingencies or being provided with adjacent openings closable by valves 7, 8. These valves can be swung to the ri ht or left to close either duct B or D. If 1t should be desired towithdraw air from both ducts A and C, the valve 7 mi ht be turned to the position indicated in Fig. 5, with valve 8 in vertical position, and then the air from both ducts B and D would be drawn out through and by means of fan 4. If the duct A should be undergoing repair, valves 7 and 8 could be turned to the positions indicated in Fig. 3, and air would then be drawn out through duct C. If for any reason it should be desired to force fresh air through both ducts A and C, I

these valves 7 and 8 could be adjusted to the positions shown in Fig. 6; and the fresh air would then be forced by fan 5 into the room through both ducts A and C. Ifvalves 7 and 8 should be also adjusted to the positions indicated in Fig. 4, then fresh air would be forced into the room only throu h the duct A. This could be-done In case uct C was being repaired. When valves 7 and 8 are both in the vertical positions, as shown in Fig. 7, then ducts B and C act independent y.

As stated, the drawings are merely diagrammatic but from the foregoing description and" explanation it will be understood that our invention provides am Is ventila tion, forremoval of foul air uni ormly from a room preferably adjacent the floor level, or

ously forced in the room at the top level. The'foul air is drawn from the room practically uniformly and without creating any undesirable draught; and the fresh air can be introduced in the room'uniformly without creating any undesirable draughts.

-During the hot summer months, withdrawing warm air from the ceiling of the room through duct C will cool the room more effectively than by withdrawing air from the floor of the room through duct A, hence in hot weather the valves 7 and .8 should be adjusted as indicated in Fig. 3. However, in cold weather the valves 7 and 8 should be adjusted as shown in Figs. 501' 7, preferably the latter, so that foul air may be withdrawn from the floor of the room.

What we claim is:

1.- In ventilating apparatus for school rooms and the like; a duct having a series of openings increasing in area as they are further removed from the outlet of the duct,

7 the total area of the series of openings in the duct approximating the cross-sectional area of the outlet, and a series of partitions within the main duct forming sub-ducts therein, substantially as described.

2. In a ventilating apparatus-for school rooms and the like; a duct arranged alongside the wall of the room adjacent the floor and having a series of openings in its lower side increasing in area as they are further removed from the outlet of the duct, the total area of the series of openings in the duct approximating the cross sectional area of the outlet, means for withdrawing air from the duct, and a series of partitions within the duct forming sub-ducts therein, substantially as described.

3. In combination with ventilating apparatus as set forth in claim 2, a second air duct arranged along the wall adjacent the ceiling and having a series of openings in one face, the total area of the openings a proximating the cross sectional area of t e inlet of the second air duct, and means for forcing air into said duct.

4, In combination with ventilating apparatns as set forth in claim 2, a second air duct arranged adjacent the ceiling and hav ing a series of openings in one face increasing in area as they are further removed from the inlet of the duct, thetotal area of the series of openings in saidductapproximating the cross sectional area of the inlet thereof, and means for forcing-air into said duct; whereby air may be admitted into the room simultaneously with the withdrawal of air therefrom.

5. In combination with ventilating apparatus as set forth in claim 2', a secondair duct arranged adjacent the ceiling and having a series of openings in one face increasing in area as they are further removed from the inlet of the duct, the total area of the series of openings in said duct approximating the cross sectional area of the inlet thereof, and means for forcing air into said duct; whereby air may be admitted into the room simultaneously with the withdrawal of air therefrom, the inlet,and outlet ducts having communicating openings and valves for closing or opening said openings whereby by properly-adjusting'said valvesair may be forced into the room through. the outlet duct or both ducts; or air may be forced into the room through the inlet duct or both ducts, substantially as described.

6. In a ventilating system for school rooms and the like, a narrow wide horizontally disposed duct arranged alongside the wall adjacent the floor and having a series of open ings in its lower side increasing in area from a point adjacent the outlet of the duct as they are further removed from the outlet; a second vertical duct communicating with the outlet of the horizontal duct, and

a fan for withdrawing air'from the verti-' cal duct, the total area of the openings in the horizontal duct approximating the cross a second vertical duct communicating with,

the inlet of the second horizontal duct; and a fan for forcing air through said second vertical duct into the upper air duct; where-' by air may be admitted into the room simultaneously with the withdrawal of air therefrom.

9. In a ventilating system for school rooms and the like, a horizontally disposed duct arranged alongside the wall adjacent the floor and having a series of openings in its lower side, a vertical duct communicating with the outlet of the horizontal duct, and a fan for withdrawing air from the vertical duct, the total area of the o enings in the horizontal duct approximating the cross sectional area of the vertical duct; a second horizontal duct arranged adjacent the ceiling and having a series of openings in one face, a second vertical duct communi eating with the inlet of the second horizontal duct; means for forcing air through said second vertical duct into the upper air duct; whereby air may be admitted into the room therefrom, the vertical ducts having communicating openings and valves for closing simultaneously with the withdrawal of air justing said Valves air may be forced into the room through either or both horizontal ducts; or air may be Withdrawn from the room through either or both horizontal ducts, substantially as described.

10. In a ventilating system for school rooms and the like, a narrow Wide horizontally disposed duct arranged alongside the Wall adjacent the floor and having a series of openings in its lower side increasing in area as they are iEurther removed from the outlet of the duct; a vertical duct communicating with the outlet of the horizontal duct; and a fan for Withdrawing air from the vertical duct, the total area of the openings in the horizontal duct approximating the cross sectional area of the vertical duct; a second horizontal duct arranged ad acent the ceiling and havlng a series of openings 20 in one face increasing in area as they are further removed from the inlet of said duct; a +1 Sv ul'lQ inlet of the second horizontal duct; and a for forcing am through said second Vertical duct into the upper air duct; Where ing openings, and valves for closing or opening said openings; whereby loy adjusting said valves air may be forced into the room through either or both horizontal ducts, or air may be Withdrawn from the room through either or both horizontal ducts; substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, We affix our signatures. DAVID E. ROSS. JAMES D. HOFF /Lhll.

econd vertical duct communicating with I 

